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August flights more punctual than July, tardier than 2012

Flights aboard the largest airlines in August were more punctual than in July, but a bit later than a year earlier, according to the Transportation Department. The on-time arrival rate was 78.8% in August, a

But the 16 airlines tracked by the department had a better record a year earlier, when they recorded an on-time rate of 79.1% in August 2012.

The best airlines for on-time arrivals were Hawaiian, Alaska and Delta. JetBlue had the lowest one-time arrival rate among the airlines studied, followed by Southwest and American Eagle, which is American Airlines' regional affiliate.

More than one-third—33.83%--of those late flights were delayed by weather. That is down from 32.95% last August.

Darryl Jenkins, airline analyst and chairman of the American Aviation Institute, says changes in on-time arrival rates do not necessarily reflect any differences in the way airlines are operating.

"The month to month changes reflect little else than change in weather," he says.

But Alan Bender, professor of Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, says he believes airlines are improving their operations.

"Passengers can justifiably complain about being nickel-and-dimed by airlines and for an overall degradation of in-flight service, but there is now overwhelming evidence that airlines are doing the most important thing right: taking people where need to go in a timely and reliable fashion," he says.

He also points out that airlines have been more profitable and that their on-time performance is showing up in their bottom lines.

"Operating profits are at near record levels," he says. "This is not merely a function of higher fares, fuller planes, stable fuel prices, and less competition, but in terms of efficiency as well. If airlines were not doing things right for most passengers, their profits would not be as high are they are."

Among the tardy flights were two tarmac delays of more than three hours, which the department is investigating because airlines can be fined $27,500 per passenger for holding them on planes that long.

Both flights – one on United affiliate SkyWest from Kalispell, Mont., and the other on Southwest from Los Angeles – were scheduled to arrive in Denver on Aug. 3, but were diverted due to storms.

Airlines canceled 1% of flights in August, down from 1.3% in August 2012. That is also an improvement from July's 1.7% cancellation rate.

They mishandled fewer bags as well. There were 3.12 reports of mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers in August, down from 3.38 last August. That was also down from July's rate of 3.68.

There were 978 consumer complaints against U.S. airlines in August, down from 1,410 last year.